Help Changing Starter
 

I recently tried to change the starter in my 1989 Cherokee 4.0L but I got
stuck when it came to removing the rear mounting bolt, the bolt is in a
really tight spot and I found it really hard to get a ratchet up in there or
even see what I was doing. Anybody know what size bolt it is or what tool
would be best for the job or just have any general information/advice about
removing the starter. Thanks in advance.

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 05:14:56 UTC "Kyonn Gowans" <kyonn@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> I recently tried to change the starter in my 1989 Cherokee 4.0L but I got
> stuck when it came to removing the rear mounting bolt, the bolt is in a
> really tight spot and I found it really hard to get a ratchet up in there or
> even see what I was doing. Anybody know what size bolt it is or what tool
> would be best for the job or just have any general information/advice about
> removing the starter. Thanks in advance.

Memory says it's 15mm but that's the best I can do for you. The 2
bolts go in from opposite sides and I can't even remember which is
which - isn't the top one in from the rear? Anyway, two
things that might help: 1) Use a really long kludge of extensions to
get it from further back - I don't recall if I could reach it that way
or not, but that's a common cure for bolts in that area. 2) put a jack
under the tranny and drop the cross member so that you can lower the
back of the engine a couple of inches.

I know that it's a tight fit, but I don't recall having that much of a
hassle with it so I suspect that either 1) helped or I got at it with
a wobble extension. I KNOW it was easier than the top bellhousing
bolts or I would remember it better!



--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 05:14:56 UTC "Kyonn Gowans" <kyonn@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> I recently tried to change the starter in my 1989 Cherokee 4.0L but I got
> stuck when it came to removing the rear mounting bolt, the bolt is in a
> really tight spot and I found it really hard to get a ratchet up in there or
> even see what I was doing. Anybody know what size bolt it is or what tool
> would be best for the job or just have any general information/advice about
> removing the starter. Thanks in advance.

Memory says it's 15mm but that's the best I can do for you. The 2
bolts go in from opposite sides and I can't even remember which is
which - isn't the top one in from the rear? Anyway, two
things that might help: 1) Use a really long kludge of extensions to
get it from further back - I don't recall if I could reach it that way
or not, but that's a common cure for bolts in that area. 2) put a jack
under the tranny and drop the cross member so that you can lower the
back of the engine a couple of inches.

I know that it's a tight fit, but I don't recall having that much of a
hassle with it so I suspect that either 1) helped or I got at it with
a wobble extension. I KNOW it was easier than the top bellhousing
bolts or I would remember it better!



--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

> Memory says it's 15mm but that's the best I can do for you. The 2
> bolts go in from opposite sides and I can't even remember which is
> which - isn't the top one in from the rear?

Yeah the one on the top is the rear, I tried a 15mm socket and it didn't
work(to big). The front bolt is 9/16 so I'm assuming that the rear bolt is
also going to be standard. I've tried the 9/16 on it but it's too small and
the 5/8 is too big, I guess I need something in-between but I'm having one
hell of a time trying to find a 19/32 socket. Does anyone know how I can
find out for sure what size bolt it is. Once again thanks in advance for any
help.

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

> Memory says it's 15mm but that's the best I can do for you. The 2
> bolts go in from opposite sides and I can't even remember which is
> which - isn't the top one in from the rear?

Yeah the one on the top is the rear, I tried a 15mm socket and it didn't
work(to big). The front bolt is 9/16 so I'm assuming that the rear bolt is
also going to be standard. I've tried the 9/16 on it but it's too small and
the 5/8 is too big, I guess I need something in-between but I'm having one
hell of a time trying to find a 19/32 socket. Does anyone know how I can
find out for sure what size bolt it is. Once again thanks in advance for any
help.

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 23:33:14 UTC "Kyonn Gowans" <kyonn@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> > Memory says it's 15mm but that's the best I can do for you. The 2
> > bolts go in from opposite sides and I can't even remember which is
> > which - isn't the top one in from the rear?
>
> Yeah the one on the top is the rear, I tried a 15mm socket and it didn't
> work(to big). The front bolt is 9/16 so I'm assuming that the rear bolt is
> also going to be standard. I've tried the 9/16 on it but it's too small and
> the 5/8 is too big, I guess I need something in-between but I'm having one
> hell of a time trying to find a 19/32 socket. Does anyone know how I can
> find out for sure what size bolt it is. Once again thanks in advance for any
> help.

Every bolt on my 88 is metric (so far) but something is screwy there.
They just don't use those in-between sizes there! I recall that the
two bolts were different sizes, but it was something like 14 or 15mm.
The only time I can ever remember using ?/32 sockets on auto assembly
bolts was to pound one on a rounded off head to get it out. No idea
how you're going to get at this one without major spacemaking.

If you can reach it, you might be able to get it loose using a cold
chisel and hammer on one of the points then put a known size back in
when you re-install.

--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 23:33:14 UTC "Kyonn Gowans" <kyonn@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> > Memory says it's 15mm but that's the best I can do for you. The 2
> > bolts go in from opposite sides and I can't even remember which is
> > which - isn't the top one in from the rear?
>
> Yeah the one on the top is the rear, I tried a 15mm socket and it didn't
> work(to big). The front bolt is 9/16 so I'm assuming that the rear bolt is
> also going to be standard. I've tried the 9/16 on it but it's too small and
> the 5/8 is too big, I guess I need something in-between but I'm having one
> hell of a time trying to find a 19/32 socket. Does anyone know how I can
> find out for sure what size bolt it is. Once again thanks in advance for any
> help.

Every bolt on my 88 is metric (so far) but something is screwy there.
They just don't use those in-between sizes there! I recall that the
two bolts were different sizes, but it was something like 14 or 15mm.
The only time I can ever remember using ?/32 sockets on auto assembly
bolts was to pound one on a rounded off head to get it out. No idea
how you're going to get at this one without major spacemaking.

If you can reach it, you might be able to get it loose using a cold
chisel and hammer on one of the points then put a known size back in
when you re-install.

--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

> Every bolt on my 88 is metric (so far) but something is screwy there.

Funny 'cause every bolt in my '89 is standard. I finally got it off (it was
a 5/8). Thanks for all your help.

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

> Every bolt on my 88 is metric (so far) but something is screwy there.

Funny 'cause every bolt in my '89 is standard. I finally got it off (it was
a 5/8). Thanks for all your help.

Re: Help Changing Starter
 

On or about Thu, 28 Aug 2003, Kyonn Gowans of kyonn@yahoo.com wrote:

> I recently tried to change the starter in my 1989 Cherokee 4.0L but I got
> stuck when it came to removing the rear mounting bolt, the bolt is in a
> really tight spot and I found it really hard to get a ratchet up in there or
> even see what I was doing. Anybody know what size bolt it is or what tool
> would be best for the job or just have any general information/advice about
> removing the starter. Thanks in advance.

I changed my `89 Cherokee's starter out just this past Saturday. Yes, the
rear bolt is in a tight spot. Break it loose with a box wrench and get a
3/8" "wobble" extension for your ratchet wrench to put the ratchet head in
a place that you can swing it. One bolt is English/American, the other is
metric. Gotta love it.

There's only two wires, a control lead and the battery cable. When you
put the new starter in, pay particular attention to which bolt the battery
cable went to. Laying on your back in the driveway it will be easy to
confuse the two and attach it to the wrong bolt. This will be Very Bad.
You'll know by the huge spark when you try to put the battery cable back
on the battery post if you've got it wrong.